Arcadia
A $3.4 million median house price across just 1,475 residents tells the essential story of Arcadia: this is one of the most thinly populated and most expensive rural-fringe pockets in greater Sydney. Household income sits at the 94.4th percentile nationally, with a weekly family income of $2,736. Nearly all dwellings (99.3%) are separate houses on large lots, and 65.4% have four or more bedrooms, well above typical Sydney suburbs. The median resident is 46 years old, which is 6 years above the national figure, reflecting a settled, affluent owner-occupier base rather than a transient rental market.
Population
1,475
Median Age
46.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,659/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
20
Median House
$3.4M
2024-2025 (PSI derived)
The median house price of $3.4 million puts Arcadia among the most expensive addresses in the Hills District, and prices have pulled back from a 2024 peak of $3,825,000 to $3,225,000 in 2025, a decline of 15.7%. That correction creates a potential entry point compared to the prior peak, though buyers face mortgage repayments averaging $3,300 per month. Mortgage stress is not severe: the mortgage-to-income ratio of 28.7% stays below the 30% threshold, because incomes here rank in the 94.4th percentile nationally. Almost all properties are detached houses, with 65.4% having four or more bedrooms, which means buyers get genuine space. Outright owners at 48.2% outnumber mortgage holders at 40.1%, confirming a neighbourhood of long-settled, largely debt-free residents.
For Buyers
The median house price of $3.4 million puts Arcadia among the most expensive addresses in the Hills District, and prices have pulled back from a 2024 peak of $3,825,000 to $3,225,000 in 2025, a decline of 15.7%. That correction creates a potential entry point compared to the prior peak, though buyers face mortgage repayments averaging $3,300 per month. Mortgage stress is not severe: the mortgage-to-income ratio of 28.7% stays below the 30% threshold, because incomes here rank in the 94.4th percentile nationally. Almost all properties are detached houses, with 65.4% having four or more bedrooms, which means buyers get genuine space. Outright owners at 48.2% outnumber mortgage holders at 40.1%, confirming a neighbourhood of long-settled, largely debt-free residents.
For Investors
Arcadia is not a conventional rental market. Only 11.7% of dwellings are rented, compared to roughly 30% nationally, and weekly rent is $485, modest relative to the $3.4 million median. That implies a gross yield below 1%, making cash flow an unlikely draw. The vacancy rate of 3.7% is above the typical low-vacancy benchmarks seen in high-demand Sydney suburbs. Development activity is light at 19 applications in the past 12 months, with recent lodgements covering alterations, sheds, and dwelling additions rather than new supply. Low turnover of 18.8% and an 81.2% stay-put rate mean rental stock rarely comes to market. Investors who enter Arcadia are typically targeting capital preservation and land-value growth rather than rental income.
Development Activity
Total DAs
139
Last 12 Months
20
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+53.8%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Arcadia iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Northholm Grammar School
K-12 · 698 students
Arcadia Public School
K-6 · 60 students
Demographics
Arcadia's median age of 46 is 6 years above the national median, placing it firmly in the aging-resident category. University qualifications reach 38.2%, which is 8.1 percentage points above the national average, indicating a highly educated resident base. Only 17.3% of residents were born overseas, 4.3 percentage points below the national figure, making Arcadia comparatively Anglo-leaning in ancestry terms. English ancestry leads (665 residents), followed by Irish (173) and Scottish (165). Average household size is 3.2, which is 0.7 above the national figure, consistent with the large-family-house profile. Volunteering is notably high at 22.1%, and families with children make up 530 households compared to 313 couples without children.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
99.3%
Houses
N/A
Townhouse
0.7%
Apartment
Tenure
Stock here is almost entirely separate houses: 99.3% of dwellings, versus the national average. The four-plus bedroom category dominates at 65.4%, with three-bedroom homes at 24.0%, reflecting the large rural lots typical of this outer Hills suburb. Ownership is the dominant tenure, with 48.2% owning outright and 40.1% on a mortgage, leaving renters at just 11.7%. The median price fell from $3,825,000 in 2024 to $3,225,000 in 2025, a 15.7% correction from peak. Despite this, the mortgage-to-income ratio of 28.7% indicates that at current income levels, repayments remain below the conventional 30% stress line. Weekly rent of $485 is low relative to purchase price, pointing to a market where housing is held for lifestyle and land value rather than yield.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$3,300
Rent / wk
$485
HH Size
3.2
Personal Income / wk
$920
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
3.7%
Unoccupied
17
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
18.2%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
28.7%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
24.4%
Couples, no children
1,285
Total families
Economy & Employment
The local workforce of around 678 employed residents leans toward knowledge and trade industries. Construction leads at 13.2% (72 workers), followed closely by Professional/Tech at 12.3% (67), Education at 11.9% (65), and Healthcare at 11.4% (62). By occupation, Professionals (193) and Managers (166) make up the top two categories, consistent with the suburb ranking at the 94.4th percentile for household income nationally. Unemployment is low at 3.1%, below the national average, and 60.9% of employed residents work full-time. Participation sits at 57.0%, lower than most areas, partly because 416 residents are not in the labour force, which reflects the older age profile and the number of residents who have reached or are approaching retirement.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
60.9%
Part-time
36.0%
Participation
57.0%
Employed
678
Occupations
Top Industries
University
38.2%
Postgraduate
10.6%
Born Overseas
17.3%
Dwellings
445
Transport to Work
Car dependency is high, with 87.0% of residents driving to work, above the national average, because Arcadia has no rail connection and limited bus services given its low density of 65.8 residents per square kilometre. Walking and cycling accounts for 6.8% of commutes, which is notable for a rural-fringe suburb and likely reflects local recreation rather than commute alternatives. No schools are recorded within the suburb boundary in this dataset, so families use neighbouring facilities. Safety data is not available at the suburb level, but the combination of a 94.4th-percentile income profile, high homeownership, and only 4.3% of residents needing daily assistance points to a low-disadvantage environment. Rent stress is absent at 18.2% rent-to-income, below the 30% stress threshold.
Drive
87.0%
Public Transport
N/A
Walk / Cycle
6.8%
Work from Home
N/A
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Arcadia compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Arcadia a good suburb to live in?
Arcadia suits households who prioritise space, privacy, and a semi-rural setting within greater Sydney. Household income sits at the 94.4th percentile nationally, the mortgage-to-income ratio is 28.7%, below the stress threshold, and 81.2% of residents stay long-term. The trade-offs are high purchase prices (median $3.4 million), limited public transport with 87% car dependency, and no recorded schools inside the suburb.
What is the median house price in Arcadia?
The current median house price is $3,225,000 (2025), down from a 2024 peak of $3,825,000, a 15.7% correction. Monthly mortgage repayments average $3,300. Weekly rent is $485 for the small 11.7% rental segment. These figures are derived from the PSI dataset.
What schools are in Arcadia?
No schools are recorded within the Arcadia 2159 boundary in this dataset. Families typically access schools in neighbouring Hills District suburbs. The resident population is highly educated, with 38.2% holding university qualifications, which is 8.1 percentage points above the national average.
Is Arcadia safe?
Suburb-level crime statistics are not available for Arcadia in this dataset. Indirect indicators point to low disadvantage: household income ranks at the 94.4th percentile nationally, only 4.3% of residents (60 people) need daily assistance, and the ownership rate exceeds 88% when outright owners and mortgage holders are combined.
Is Arcadia good for property investment?
Arcadia is a poor fit for yield-focused investment. With only 11.7% of dwellings rented, weekly rent of $485, and a median price of $3.4 million, the gross yield is well below 1%, lower than typical Sydney investment benchmarks. The 15.7% price decline from 2024 to 2025 also shows that the ultra-luxury segment is exposed to rate cycles. Capital growth over the long term may appeal, but rental income is limited.
How is Arcadia's population changing?
Arcadia's population of 1,475 is stable with very low turnover: 81.2% of residents stayed in the same address, and the annual mobility rate is just 18.8%. No population forecast data is available, but the aging median age of 46, which is 6 years above national, and the low density of 65.8 residents per square kilometre suggest the suburb will remain small and owner-dominated.
What types of homes are in Arcadia?
Almost all dwellings are separate houses (99.3%), with 65.4% having four or more bedrooms and 24.0% having three bedrooms. The 22.4 square kilometre area supports acreage and large-lot living. Ownership dominates: 48.2% own outright and 40.1% hold a mortgage, leaving only 11.7% renting, well below the national rental share.
How to read these comparisons
Phrases like "above the national average" reference the unweighted median across Australian suburbs with more than 1,000 residents, not population-weighted national figures. Suburb-level medians are more useful for ranking suburbs against each other; ABS census headlines are population-weighted (so dominated by Sydney and Melbourne) and can read very differently.
Current baseline (refreshed 2026-05-10): median age 40, university-educated 30.1%, born overseas 21.6%, average household size 2.5 people.
Data sources: ABS 2021 Census (demographics, income, tenure), state Valuer-General (house prices), Department of Jobs SALM (unemployment), ACARA (school ICSEA), state Crime Statistics agencies (offences), council DA portals (development applications). Population forecasts use a Hamilton-Perry cohort model calibrated to ABS ERP.
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